What To Do With Bananas

Because I can buy bananas here marked down to $1.49 for a whole bag, I have several recipes that I use so that I can use up the bananas before they go bad.  If these recipes do not finish off the bag, I just mash the bananas, add a little lemon juice and freeze them in 1 cup bags and save for later use.

Banana bread is an easy one to make. I have tried several recipes but we really just like the standard one from my Betty Crocker Cookbook:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/3 cup water

1 2/3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup chopped nuts

I seldom add the nuts and I basically just mix all the ingredients together; grease the bottom of the loaf pan; pour in the batter and bake for 1 hour (350 degrees).

The bread in the picture above was made with my " mistake" banana butter . I made a double batch and just added two jars of the banana butter in place of the bananas and sugar. The bread didn't really taste any different than it normally does.

Here are a few more recipes you can make with your extra bananas:

Banana Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp lemon extract (I never have this. I add a little lemon juice)

3 ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup ground walnut (I never add walnuts, since Phil hates them)

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Lightly grease or line baking sheets with parchment paper. In large bowl cream shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla and lemon extract.  Beat in bananas and nuts. Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt. Drop by spoonfulls onto cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes.

Here is a recipe that I just found in our local newspaper yesterday. I am going to try this one as soon as the banana bread is gone.

Banana Breakfast Coffee Cake

Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

Cake:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup mashed bananas

1/3 cup 2 percent reduced-fat milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9 inch pan.

Topping:

Combine ingredients except walnuts in food processor and process until resembles fine crumbs, stir in walnuts.

Cake:

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl.

Beat butter with mixer at medium speed about 30 seconds until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat 3 to 4 minutes until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla and bananas and beat well until well blended. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, mixing after each addition only until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan; sprinkle with topping.

Bake about 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Banana Smoothie

This recipe has no measured out ingredients. You put several bananas in the blender, add whatever other fruit you have. We really like strawberries with ours. Add milk and a little sugar if you wish. Add some ice cubes. Blend until smooth.